Covens and Proxies

10

It's been a month. Jeff is standing in front of you, knife leveled at your throat. Toby had just left an hour ago after you healed a shattered wrist and cut of glass on his shoulder.

"You've been seeing him." He growls low.

"What?" You ask, forcing a soft smile.

"You've been going out with Toby." He snarls.

"Jeff, no. I haven't. I haven't dated anyone since college." Your smile becomes genuine as you point his blade away. "I don't know where you got this idea that we were dating, but it's not true." You step closer, a lump forming in your throat. "You were a good friend, but I think it's time you disappeared." You cup his cheeks, planting your index fingers at his temples.

He looks scared, so you give his nose a peck. "Don't worry, Jeffy. Just relax. I promise you're not going to sleep." You coo, pouring your energy into your fingers as your magic works through his mind. You watch as his eyes glaze over, only held up by your magic.

You reach deep into his thoughts, his memories, and draw out the ones of you. Everything related to you, you pull out and relocate to nothingness. When you pull your fingers back, he collapses. Your energy feels like it's been drained yet again, but you push through the haze and grab your phone. It rings only twice before Toby picks up.

"What's wrong? Is Jeff trying to kill you?" He jokes. You laugh uneasily. "Did he really?!" He roars, making you flinch and pull the phone away from your ear.

"It's okay, Toby. I took care of it. He's unconcious." You tell him, your voice audibly tired and slurred.

"Just kill him. No one will miss him." He growls.

"No. Can you come get him before he wakes up? I'm about to pass out."

There's a minute of silence, followed be yelling and arguing. "I'm on my way. How long can you stay awake?"

"Fifteen minutes?" You gage, giving a five minute margin.

"I'll be there in a second. Just stay awake and keep him out."

A beep sounds, signalling the end of the call. You stumble back onto your bed, the room seeming to be fogged.

~

The front door bangs open, snapping you out of a light sleep. You feel better, though the difference isn't huge. Thumping feet followed be Toby skidding to a halt in front of your door. He's panting, scanning the room in determined fervor. You stand up, taking a hesitant step forward. Immediately, your eyes lock and visibly relaxes.

He glances at the body before drawing you behind him and pulling his hatchets out. "What di-did you use?"

It tales you a moment to realize exactly what's going on. When you do, you smile and step to Toby's side, gently pushing his arm down. "It's alright. He won't wake up for a while."

After a moment of looking between Jeff and you, he sheaths his blades and stands tall again. "Alright. What hap-pened?" He asks again.

You sigh and sit down. "He thought you and I were intimate, and confronted me about it. I realised that no matter what happened, he would think we were in love. Him and I. So I took myself out of his picture." You explain softly, refusing to look Toby in the eye.

"You wiped his memory?" Toby asks to clarify.

You nod. "When he wakes up, he won't remember anything about me."

He sits down on the spot, staring at Jeff's unconscious form. "I didn't know you could do-do that." He breathes.

"Neither did I." You mutter under your breath. Toby looks at you strangely, so you force a small smile. "I just read the spell the other day, while I was looking through my book. It was extremely advanced." You supply, sitting back on your bed.

A long moment of silence settles into the room as you and Toby stare at Jeff. His chest rises and falls at a slow pace, barely perceivable through his loose white sweater.

"What now?" You ask finally, not sure of what to do.

The ticker shrugs. "I take hi-him home. Come back when one of us-us is hurt." He suggests.

You nod, watching him stand. He stoops, taking Jeff up by his arm and slinging it over his shoulder. As he walks out, he pauses at the door. He looks like he wants to say something before shaking his head and leaving.

You only wonder briefly what it was that he wanted to say before going about your own business.